POLITICS: Experience? Comparing Palin & Obama

[Old Ironsights]

http://wlsam.com/goout.asp?u=http://www ... t/3462802/

Office being sought -

Palin-Vice President
Obama-President of the United States and Leader of the Free World

Full name

Sarah Louise Heath Palin
Barack Hussein Obama II

Nickname

Sarah Barracuda
Barry Obama; "The One"

Public opinion

Palin - Smoking hot in a "naughty librarian" sort of way
Obama - May be The Messiah

Age

Palin-44
Obama-48

Children

Palin-5: two sons, three daughters
Obama-2: two daughters

Religion/Church attendance

Palin-Evangelical Christian;attends Juneau Christian Center when in Juneau and grew up attending Wasilla Assembly of God
Obama-Attended Trinity United Church of Christ for 20 years, a "black liberation theology" church formerly led by Rev. Jeremiah Wright and governed according to the Black Value System

Current Job

Palin-Governor of Alaska
Obama-Junior Senator from Illinois

Previous Public Jobs

Palin-Mayor of Wasilla, AK (1996-2002); President of Alaska Conference of Mayors; City Council member (1992-1996)
Obama-State Senator (1997-2004); Community Organizer

Executive Experience

Palin-Governor for 2 years; Mayor for 10 years
Obama-None

Foreign Relations experience

Palin-Governor of state that borders two foreign countries (Canada and Russia)
Obama-Chaired Senate subcommittee on Europe but never called it into session;once gave a speech to 200,000 screaming Germans

Military Affairs experience

Palin-Commander in Chief of Alaska National Guard;Son is enlisted Infantryman in U.S. Army
Obama-None

Private Sector Experience

Palin-Sports reporter;Salmon fisherman
Obama-Associate at civil rights law firm

Speaking ability

Palin-Beautifully executed initial stump speech in Dayton, OH hockey arena without a teleprompter
Obama-An enter...wait--did you say without a teleprompter??

Spouse's name

Palin-Todd Mitchell Palin
Obama-Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

Spouse's occupation

Palin-Salmon fisherman; Former North Slope production supervisor for BP Oil
Obama-Vice President for Community and External Affairs at University of Chicago Hospitals;former Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago;former Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies;former Assistant to the Mayor of Chicago;former associate at Sidley Austin law firm

Reaction to spouse's political success

Palin-Quit 17-year BP oil job when BP became involved in natural gas pipeline negotiations with wife's administration
Obama-Promoted and given 160% pay raise by UofC hospitals within months of husband's election to U.S. Senate; Employer received $1,000,000.00 federal earmark, requested by husband, after her promotion

Coolest thing about Spouse

Palin-Tesoro Iron Dog Snowmobile race champion (longest snowmobile race in the world);In 2008, while defending his championship, was injured when he was thrown 70 feet from his machine. He was sent to the hospital but still finished in fourth place
Obama-Sister of Oregon State University head basketball coach Craig Robinson

Most Courageous Moment in Public Service

Palin-Resigned in protest from position of Ethics Commissioner of Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in order to expose legal violations and conflicts of interest of Alaska Republican leaders, including the former state Attorney General and the State GOP Chairman (who was also an Oil & Gas Commissioner), who was doing work for the party on public time and supplying a lobbyist with a sensitive e-mail.
Obama-Gave an anti-Iraq war speech to a crowd of anti-Iraq war demonstrators in Hyde Park in 2002

In Current Office Because...

Palin-Upset sitting Governor in GOP primary due to public support for her efforts to clean up corrupt government establishment
Obama-Republican opponent, who was leading in the polls, was forced to leave race after unsealing of divorce records exposed a sex scandal

Theme:

Palin-Change and Clean Government
Obama-Hope and Change; "Bringing Change from Outside Washington"

What they've done to live that theme:

Palin-Replaced entire Board of Agriculture and Conservation because of conflict of interest; Resigned from position of Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in order to expose corruption among members of own party
Obama-Selected 36-year incumbent Senator as running mate

Family Affairs

Palin-May have removed State Public Safety Commissioner as part of effort to protect sister in messy divorce and child custody battle
Obama-Often says, "I am my brother's keeper"; Brother lives in a hut in Nairobi on $12 per year

Union affiliation

Palin-Union member, married to Union member
Obama-Endorsed by a union

Iraq and Troop Support

Palin-Formerly (pre-surge) critical of apparent lack of long-term strategy for Iraq; Visited wounded U.S. soldiers in Germany;visited AK National Guard soldiers deployed to Kuwait;Son deploying to Iraq on 9/11/08 as Army infantryman
Obama-Gave an anti-Iraq war speech to a crowd of anti-Iraq war demonstrators; almost visited wounded troops in Germany, but decided to go shopping in Berlin instead

Bipartisan/"maverick" credentials

Palin-Married to a non-Republican; Exposed corruption within own party; Campaigned for Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell against corrupt GOP congressman Don Young;Called out Sen Ted Stevens (R-AK) to "come clean" about financial dealings that are under fed investigation
Obama-Talks about bipartisanship

Legislative Record

Palin-Passed a landmark ethics reform bill;Used veto to cut budgetary spending;Prevented "bridge to nowhere" that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.
Obama-Voted "present" over 100 times as IL state senator

How they dealt with corrupt individuals in home city/state

Palin-Exposed legal violations and conflicts of interest of Alaska Republican leaders; Campaigned against corrupt GOP Representative; Ran against and defeated corrupt incumbent governor in GOP primary
Obama-Launched political career in home of unrepentant domestic terrorist Bill Ayers (and still refers to him as a part of "mainstream Democratic Chicago"; Purchased home with help of convicted felon Tony Rezko

Guns

Palin-Lifetime member of NRA and avid hunter; video can be found on YouTube of Palin firing an M4 at a military firing range
Obama-Worked to pass legislation in Illinois that would prevent all law-abiding citizens from owning firearms

Earmarks

Palin-Opposed "Bridge to Nowhere" project;Said Alaska should avoid relying on federal money for projects;Campaigned against porker Don Young (R-AK) in 2008 primary
Obama-Secured federal earmarks for wife's employer and for campaign bundlers

Abortion

Palin-Pro life;gave birth to 5th child knowing that he would have Down's syndrome
Obama-Pro-choice; only IL state sen. to speak against the Born Alive Infant's Protection Act, which required medical care to be given to live infants who survived abortions

Energy

Palin-Believes energy independence is a matter of national security;For drilling in ANWR, which is in her state
Obama-Says Americans should "get tune-ups" and "check tire pressure";Says "we can't expect the world to be okay with" our use of heating and air conditioning

Environment

Palin-Chair of Alaska Conservation Commission (2003-4);Announced plans to create sub-cabinet group of advisors to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in AK
Obama-Talks about the environment a lot

Athletic prowess

Palin-Runs marathons
Obama-Has reporters tailing him to the gym

[crs]

Good post. I just sent the email version to about 100 folks.

[45Jack]

Thanks, I can always count on you for something that will snap a synapse or two.
Jack

[bogus bill]

Old ironsights, good job! You get a "A" on your homework!

[Old Ironsights]

Old ironsights, good job! You get a "A" on your homework!

Cut-n-paste man, cut-n-paste. The link is provided.

[gamekeeper]

Very interesting post, I hope every voter in the USA is made aware of these facts.

[Ysabel Kid]

Excellent side by side!

[TCB in TN]

Well I have to say either McCain or his handlers are smarter than I thought. I was just planning on sitting this one out for the 1st time in my adult life, till they brought her in. Not only CAN I vote for her, I want to vote for her. Is she perfect? No, but pretty darn good! Unfortunately SHE should be heading the ticket (but then again McCain is in his 70's so I guess she really kinda is. )

[Old Ironsights]

Well I have to say either McCain or his handlers are smarter than I thought. I was just planning on sitting this one out for the 1st time in my adult life, till they brought her in. Not only CAN I vote for her, I want to vote for her. Is she perfect? No, but pretty darn good! Unfortunately SHE should be heading the ticket (but then again McCain is in his 70's so I guess she really kinda is. )

IMO it's his handlers.

I think that if it had been up to him it would have been Leiberman... who will make a good SecState but is NOT who I would want in the Whitehouse.

[J35]

I wouldn't be so quick to hold McCain's age against him, his mother is 96 and still going strong.

Palin's foreign relations experience is deeper than Canada and Russia, you can add Japan, China, Korea.



good luck

[bigbore442001]

Keep in mind the real reason why Obama had 200K people in Germany seeing him. He had his speech at a free rock concert with free beer. How many of those people came to see him vs. getting free beer and music? Something to cogitate on.

[Bruce Scott]

You missed these...

Children's Names

Palin - Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig.

Obama - Malia and Sasha

[Ysabel Kid]

The Republicans are on fire tonight! Guiliani just ended his speech, and Palin should be coming up any minute.